Citation Sought: Replace iterative attacks with special attacks (trip, disarm, etc.)

[Endarire]

Greetings, all!

I recall seeing the RAW somewhere - likely in the SRD - that allowed the replacing of iterative attacks, as well as all attacks in general, with special attacks (trip, bull rush, disarm, grapple, etc.) Where is this rule stated?

Thankee!

[Khatoblepas]

It's hidden away the Miscellaneous Actions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm) table, I think 8-2, but it says:


These attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action. As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge action, one or more times in a full attack action, or even as an attack of opportunity.

So yeah, any time you are granted an attack, you can use Trip, Disarm, Grapple or Sunder.

[NNescio]

Greetings, all!

I recall seeing the RAW somewhere - likely in the SRD - that allowed the replacing of iterative attacks, as well as all attacks in general, with special attacks (trip, bull rush, disarm, grapple, etc.) Where is this rule stated?

Thankee!

If it says "as a(n unarmed) melee attack", then you (usually) can. (e.g. Trip, Disarm). You can also do so for grapple because it explicitly allows you to. ("If you get multiple attacks, you can attempt to start a grapple multiple times (at successively lower base attack bonuses).")

Otherwise no. Especially not Bull Rush since it's explicitly called out as a standard action (or as part of a charge).

(Though granted you can get free Bull Rushes as part of your iteratives if you have the Knockback feat [RoS] or that magical weapon property with a similar effect [and likely a few other game effects as well], but that's something that is specifically enabled by another rule, with their own requirements. By default, you can't Bull Rush on full attack iteratives.)

SRD also made it explicit in some tables, under the Actions in Combat (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#fullAttack) section. Sunder is listed under Table: Standard Actions (note that the Sunder entry itself also uses slightly different language compared to Disarm and Trip). Disarm, Grapple and Trip are listed under Table: Miscellaneous Actions, with a footnote explicitly saying that they can be used once or multiple times as part of a full attack (or charge or AoO). The explanation given is that they "substitute for a melee attack, not an action."

I believe the PHB equivalent is under page 141. (haven't read it in a while... because, well, SRD) Also IIRC there's an example somewhere in page 90+ or so about a fighter tripping an enemy multiple times.

(Yes, table entries and examples are often notorious for being incorrect, but they are still RAW. They are only considered superseded by the rules text when there's an actual conflict, as described under Primary vs. Secondary sources under the Rules Compendium.)

Edit:

It's hidden away the Miscellaneous Actions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm) table, I think 8-2, but it says: So yeah, any time you are granted an attack, you can use Trip, Disarm, Grapple or Sunder.

Sunder is conspicuously absent though. Instead it's listed under the Standard Actions table.

[emeraldstreak]

It's hidden away the Miscellaneous Actions (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm) table, I think 8-2, but it says:



So yeah, any time you are granted an attack, you can use Trip, Disarm, Grapple or Sunder.

Not Sunder.